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Xysticus Crab Spider on Rough Blazing Star

Crab spiders capture prey by sitting quietly on vegetation and waiting for an insect or other spider to pass by. Then, they simply grab and bite it. Moths and butterflies make up the bulk of their prey. Here, the spider is on a flowerhead of rough blazing star, Liatris aspera. You can tell by the flowerhead’s bracts, which are rounded, somewhat pouched or swollen, and have thin, whitish or transparent margins that are unevenly torn-looking.

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To understand the name "gayfeather," imagine yourself as a settler journeying west through what were formerly vast expanses of native tallgrass prairie. These showy flowers must have lifted hearts, even when the wagon wheel broke!

Rough blazing star is fairly common and scattered nearly statewide. To distinguish between Missouri’s nine species in the genus Liatris, start by noting details of the flower structure. It’s not hard when you know what to look for.

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